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Community Spotlight

Destiny Rice

By: Jayme Lucas-Bukszar

Eleven year old Destiny Rice will be entering the sixth grade at Old Brooklyn Community Middle School later this month. Language Arts is her favorite subject, and she loves to read and write poetry. She would like to work in politics, be a corrections officer like her mother, or be an artist when she grows up.

Destiny is also the youngest member of the Second District Community Relations Committee, having been was voted in last fall. Her latest work for the Second District was organizing lemonade stands to benefit Officer Hank Adkins, who was forced to retire (WHEN?) after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

So far, Destiny has raised over $1880 for Officer Adkins. Her most recent lemonade stand was at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 5801 Memphis Ave., and included a sales competition between Cleveland Ward 13 Councilman Kevin Kelley and Second District Captain Keith Sulzer. A third sale is planned for August 2nd at the Ohio City-Detroit Shoreway yard sale. Maps for the yard sale will be available at 5005 Franklin Blvd. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Destiny has been going to Second District Community Relations meetings with her mother, Shannon Rice, and grandmother, Cyndi Carter, for as long as she can remember. Cyndi is Kevin Kelley’s Administrative Assistant at his downtown office when he is functioning as Cleveland City Council President. Going to meetings with them sparked Destiny’s interest and she has been volunteering for a few years.

Destiny has volunteered at Second District spaghetti dinners, children’s Christmas parties, “Nights out against Crime”, community baby shower at Providence House, and Safety Fairs at Lincoln West High School.

When asked why she wanted to get so involved, Destiny said, “It gives me something to do and makes people happy.” Her mother added, “Destiny has always been a giving child and these opportunities were a natural fit.”

Destiny and her “big time buddy” Captain Sulzer presented the funds which she helped raise to Officer Adkins at the Adkins’ home. She said the Adkins’ family was very grateful for the support and that family members attended the lemonade sale throughout the day. Shannon Rice shared, “It has brought me so much joy and pride watching her at the lemonade stand. She has been so selfless and giving.”

Captain Sulzer and Destiny will be launching a new program, Second District Kids Care, this fall. Through the program, Second District children will help with neighborhood cleanups and snow shoveling and lawn care for seniors, Reflecting about the program Destiny stated, “Keith inspired me to do this stuff. I saw him working at different events and I thought it would be fun to do them.”

Destiny is hoping to inspire other children and parents through Second District’s Kids Care. She also helped Ward 13 Councilman Kevin Kelley deliver items to a resident on Archmere Ave. whose garage had been broken into. Cleveland Browns donated Browns paraphernalia/MEMORABILIA/MERCHANDISE??? and Councilman Kelley donated carving and woodworking tools.

Second District’s Kids Care will be setting up a Facebook page or website soon to keep everyone updated. The Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation will help get the word out after it’s launched. Destiny would like to thank the following organizations for their support during the lemonade sales — Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Old Brooklyn Lawn Care, Michael Liner of Liner Legal, Georgio’s Pizza, Julie Holiday, the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Ward 15 Councilman and City Council President Kevin Kelley, and Second District Captain Keith Sulzer.